If you’re musically gifted, you already have the potential to become a great entrepreneur. There are many potential business opportunities that allow you to showcase your musical talents or work in the music industry. Below are different business ideas for musicians.
Business ideas for musicians
recording artist
If you want to perform or create your own music, you can start a business as a recording artist where you record tracks and albums, offering them for sale online or in other formats.
touring artist
You can also take your talents on the road and start a business as a touring musician. You can earn money by selling tickets and goods to people at every place you visit.
Local event artist
Or you can stick to performance in your area. Book concerts at local restaurants, clubs and various events to fill your calendar.
wedding band
You can also focus specifically on performance at weddings. Create a website and market your services so couples can find you and book your services.
disc jockey
Many musicians also have a great taste in music and know from experience what people like live. So with a bit of tech savvy, they can also make great disc jockeys. Disc jockeys are also popular for weddings, clubs and other special events. So you can start your own business and then book various gigs.
Songwriter
If you have the skills to write music, you can start a business as a songwriter where you sell your songs or offer your services to other musicians.
Lyricist
You can also carve out a more specific niche as a lyricist, writing the actual words to go along with various melodies.
session musician
If you want to play music, but don’t necessarily want to be a headliner, you can work as a session musician. Session musicians work with bands or artists who need backup instruments to accompany their songs.
backup voice
You can also offer similar services as a backing vocalist, offering your talents to other musicians on a freelance or contract basis.
Composer
Little more than a songwriter, a composer has the skills to create not only melodies and accompaniment chords, but also to write more sophisticated arrangements for each instrument. For someone with a knack for composing full arrangements of music, especially for large groups of musicians, there is the ability to work on scores for movies, TV shows, events and more.
Driver
A conductor also has knowledge of complete musical scores and how large musical groups – like a symphony – work together. They are responsible for leading a group of musicians in the interpretation of these musical pieces. And it’s not just in the symphony hall but for commercials, videos or television. With the right training, you could offer your services to various musical entities on a freelance basis.
jingle writer
If you want to write fast, catchy tunes, you can also start a business as a jingle writer, working on songs for TV commercials and other commercials.
theme song maker
Or you can work on slightly longer content specializing in theme songs for TV, movies, or other content.
Song Licensing Company
Similar to product licensing, you can also write songs and then offer to let others use them for various purposes in exchange for a fee.
Street artist
You don’t necessarily need to have a lot of resources to start a business as a musician. You can actually start a business as a street performer with the proper permits.
Streaming Service Musician
It is also possible to earn money by recording songs and then offering them on streaming services like Spotify.
music teacher
You can also share your musical talents with others. As a teacher, you can start your own school or even offer workshops for people who want to play or write music. You can also do this through a franchise program like School of Rock.
Individual tutor
Or you could work with clients on a more individual basis as a music tutor. This can be a particularly useful format if you want to teach people to play specific instruments like the piano.
voice coach
For those whose musical talents lie more in singing than playing instruments, you can also start a business working with clients as a vocal coach.
Music producer
You can also work with musicians to have their recordings actually produced. Music producers manage things like song arrangements and recording sessions.
Record label owner
Or you can focus more on the business side and start your own label, signing various artists to record work under your label.
Reservation agent
If you want to focus on live performances, you can help artists book gigs as a booking agent.
event promoter
Then you can also start a business that promotes concerts and other music-related events, either online or using more traditional methods.
band manager
You can also handle just about every aspect of running a band or musical act by serving as a band manager.
Owner of a recording studio
Or you can open your own studio and then allow musicians and recording artists to come in and use the space and equipment in exchange for a fee.
Sound engineer
Sound engineering is a priority in the recording industry. You can offer your services to musicians who want someone to help them create the best possible sound quality for their recordings.
Sound effects producer
Musicians, film producers and others can also use the services of sound effects producers. While not necessarily directly related to music, offering this type of service can utilize many of the same talents.
Video game audio creator
Likewise, you can focus on creating sound effects, music, and other audio elements for video games.
Cover band musician
If you want to play music but not necessarily write your own songs, you can start a cover band playing other musicians’ songs at small events in your local community or in other communities.
parody artist
Or you can even start a business as a parody artist, turning popular songs into fun parodies to perform live, through other media, or on YouTube or other online video channels.
music therapist
Music therapy is a booming industry. You can start your own business as a music therapist or even offer your services to places like nursing homes.
music video director
For those who are also visually oriented, you can start a business as a music video maker for artists.
YouTube personality
Or you can showcase your own talents in videos on YouTube and earn money from advertisements or site royalties.
music website
You can also create your own website where you showcase and sell your music using a platform like WixMusic.
music blogger
If you want to write about music or even share multimedia on your own site, you can start your own music blog and run it like a business.
music podcaster
For a more audio-focused format, you can create your own podcast where you share songs and music thoughts.
Instrument rental service
If you have access to a decent supply of musical instruments, you can start a business by offering to rent these instruments to other musicians.
Instrument repair service
Or you can offer repair services to musicians and anyone with various musical instruments.
Musician in residence
For those who want to play music but stick to a more regular time and location, you can offer your services at just one or two locations. For example, you could play at a specific restaurant in your area every Friday night on an ongoing basis.
Singing Telegram Service
You can also offer a kind of telegram service for people who want to send friendly messages in musical form.
Karaoke service
Or you can help others showcase their own musical talents, or lack thereof, by starting a karaoke service.
music festival organizer
You can also focus on more serious music events, hosting festivals featuring multiple artists and bands.
concert hall owner
Or you can open your own venue and host concerts and other music-related events.
seller of goods
Many musicians also earn income by selling merchandise. You can make it available at gigs to earn money even at free shows. And you can also sell products online.
Record store owner
Although musical talent is not an actual requirement for opening a record store, it can be a popular activity for musical minds. And you can even host shows or open mic parties if you have enough space.
Voice over artist
You can also offer your services to companies and film or commercial producers as a voice artist. Not every job will necessarily require singing, but it’s a good thing to have on your resume.
Leader of the musical social network
For entrepreneurs who are tech-savvy and savvy in the music industry, consider creating your own social network specifically designed to help musicians share their skills and help listeners find new bands and artists.
Music mobile app developer
You can also put your talents to use in mobile app development, working on new apps for playing, finding, or writing music.
Music magazine publisher
For old-school entrepreneurs, you can also create a zine or other print publication aimed at musicians or music fans.
music reviewer
And finally, criticizing music does not necessarily require musical talent. But having this understanding can certainly help. You can create your own assessment site or even offer your talents as a freelancer.
Related Reading: 51 Business Ideas for 2020
Keyboard photo via Shutterstock
